Sunday, May 18, 2008

Cooking a Monastic Soup

Australia is right in the middle of autumn and while we have very mild weather it is nice to be desiring warm and hearty meals. I pulled out my copy of Twelve Months of Monastery Soups by Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette and decided to make the Country Mushroom and Sour Cream Soup. (pg 32) I've been looking for healthy Friday meals and so this vegetarian soup fits perfectly. (I'm going to freeze this batch.)

One minor addition to it - dried nettles. Stinging Nettle is an excellent herb for building health and stamina, just the sort of thing you want to do as winter's colds, flu's and the like, loom nearer. I find that it is a bit like adding dried parsley, it can't really be tasted and so it is becomes a 'hidden' health elixer. I add it also to casseroles and mashed potatoes or pumpkin.

I can't wait till Friday! (Doesn't seem right does it? Fridays are meant to be penitential...)

4 comments:

Jenny of Elefantz said...

I sat down to check your blog and had to laugh - wafting through our home is the tantalising aroma of "Monk's Lentil Soup", simmering away for tonight's supper.
I have thought about buying the book you have mentioned and now I'm re-inspired! Those cooler evenings cry out for nourishing soups. But pray tell - where does one find stinging nettle? What does it look like?

Jacqlyn said...

Hi Anne
My all time favourite soup is mushroom so I must admit that it sounds very appetising!
I love collecting cooking books. The one you mention sounds lovely. Soup is one of my all time favourite meals!
I remember stinging nettles in the U.K......I was often stung by them whilst playing in the bushes! but didn't know that they grew in Australia. Very interesting! I will have to find out more.
Bless ya, Jacqui

Sweetness and Light said...

This is one of my favorite soup cookbooks!! Looks yummy, happy autumn to you Aussie Annie :)

Anne (aussieannie) said...

Here is a link to some dried Stinging Nettle, this looks like very good value 500g for $10 and for light herbs that 500gms sounds like alot.

http://www.herbwholesalers.com/shop/product_details.php?ProductID=124